Kevin rathbun™ - bio

After
thirty years in the restaurant business working and learning from
others, in 2004, Kevin Rathbun opened his namesake restaurant,
Rathbun's, then Krog Bar (2005), and then Kevin Rathbun Steak (2007).
And today, Kevin continues to be a pivotal and driving force in the
local and national restaurant scene.

At
Rathbun's, Kevin
incorporated his take on Modern American Cuisine with a menu that
expands to over fifty menu items along with specials every night.His insight to what his guests desire have turned most of the
menu items into staples.His features of raw "crudo" plates were one of the
first to be seen in Atlanta, and his listing of "small
plates" expands to over fifteen items. His entree consist of
"big plates" and "second mortgage plates" and range
in menu pricing of $15.00 to $39.00.The signature items are the scallops, the lobster taco, the 20
oz. Ribeye with blue cheese, and the veal chop with sweet corn Gouda.Added to that is Kevin's list of signature side plates that
range from the chicken
livers a la plancha to the cauliflower mash.

At
Krog Bar, after visiting Spain, Kevin returned with a vision of an intimate wine
bar with small tapas plates.Working along with the restaurant designers and architects, he
opened Krog Bar and did just that.He incorporated all types of Spanish style cuisines into a menu
and atmosphere, which has some of the same staples as day one and now
features daily specials of hot plates. Krog Bar's intimate interior
adds to the warmth of dining in this award winning Spanish style wine
bar.

At
Kevin Rathbun Steak,
Kevin took on his biggest endeavor to date.Only one and a half blocks from Rathbun's and Krog Bar, Kevin
found an old cotton warehouse and turned it into one of the Top
Steakhouses in The U.S. (Details Magazine). Kevin Rathbun Steak
features Prime steaks from Allen Brothers in Chicago along with a menu
that expands to over fifty items. Kevin wanted this steakhouse to have
the "new modernized atmosphere and menu" of a steakhouse and
he did that by incorporating more seafood, alternative meats, new and
creative appetizers and a list of over fifteen sides.The incorporation of local produce and a completely chef driven
menu with organic meats and heritage bred animals has continued to keep
this restaurant as one of the top new steakhouses in the United States.

Kevin's
background started in humble beginnings in Kansas City, where he
started working as a dishwasher at Sambo's.

He
has worked with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs such as Bradley
Ogden, Emeril Lagasse, Stephen Pyles, Ella Brennan and Pano Karratossos
and he has perfected not only his technique in the kitchen, but his
passion for owning and operating his own businesses.

While
Kevin was Chef at Baby Routh in Dallas, it received the DiRona award
for dining excellence. His drive and passion landed him the chef’s
position at Nava in Atlanta where he brought Southwestern food cuisine
to the city of Atlanta. Nava became an instant hit and was noticed both
locally and nationally, and since 1995 has been continuously voted one
of the top five restaurants in the city.

Earning
Esquire Magazines “Top New Restaurant” for Nava was a highlight, as
was being the Corporate Chef of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group.
While there, overseeing NAVA, BluePointe, Kyma, and The Buckhead Diner,
his list of accolades continued to add up which propelled him to go out
on his own.

In
May of 2004, Kevin opened his namesake restaurant “Rathbun’s”
in Atlanta. It opened to critical acclaim and was voted by Esquire
Magazine as one of the “Top New Restaurants in the Country”. Since
the inception of Rathbun’s, Kevin has opened a second and third
restaurant Krog Bar and Kevin Rathbun Steak. They are located next door
to Rathbun’s and a block and a half from Rathbun’s and both have
received local and national acclaim.

Kevin
Rathbun, along with his restaurants, Rathbun’s,
Kevin Rathbun Steak
& Krog Bar are proud
charitable contributors and Kevin continuously donates his time, energy
and food to many charitable events throughout Atlanta and throughout
the United States. He continues to be a leader in the charitable
community and sits on the board of the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Some of the charities he donates to are: Liver Foundation, Share our
Strength, Leukemia Foundation, Atlanta Food Bank, Aqua Vino at the
Georgia Aquarium, High Museum Auction Donor, Zoo Atlanta, Slow Food
Movement, American Cancer Society, Grant Park Conservatory, Serenbe of
Atlanta, Hospice of Ohio, Aspen Food & Wine, South Beach Food &
Wine Festival, Chrones & Colitis Foundation, March of Dimes, Les
Dames D'escofier and many more.

Kevin
resides in Atlanta with his wife, Melissa. In his spare time, he
enjoys, philanthropy, reading cookbooks, dining out, fine cigars,
traveling and humbly admits that in his next life, he would have a
passion for restaurant designing.